Application Due Dates
- The teacher candidate should apply for their placement one year before the semester of the field experience.
- For fall semester, applications are due November 15th. Example: Placement desired for Fall 2013 - applications are due November 15, 2012.
- For spring semester, applications are due January 30th. Example: Placement desired for Spring 2014, applications are due January 30, 2013.
- The student teaching field experience is available either fall or spring semester.
Eligibility Requirements
- Accepted for Admission to the College of Education (includes Application, payment for Criminal Background Fingerprint Check and National Sex Offender Check, and negative TB test)
- Receive a passing score on the state Basic Skills Test or Test of Academic Proficiency. For more information on testing visit this link for the Illinois Certification Testing: www.icts.nesinc.com.
- Meet all GPA and course prerequisite requirements of your program before the semester of your placement. Speak with your advisor for more information.
- Pass all appropriate content area test(s) and APT tests the semester BEFORE student teaching. Consider taking the tests early enough to allow time for a re-take if needed. Check Moodle “College of Education: General Placement & Field Experiences Information Board” for further information on the particular tests you must pass.
- Complete DCFS Mandated Reporter online training and submit required documentation before student teaching. Check Moodle “College of Education: General Placement & Field Experiences Information Board” for further information.
- From time to time, program requirements may be updated to comply with changing legislation. Notice of changes is posted to our Moodle board (see below). Please join our Moodle board and/or check the “Latest News” section each semester.
Important Items to Note
- Teacher candidates may not approach school district personnel to seek a placement. The Aurora University and school districts have agreements that specifically prohibit teacher candidates from arranging their own placements! Teacher candidates who try to seek their own placement may be denied a placement.
- Submitting an application for a placement does not enroll you in the associated course. You still need to enroll using the procedure for your program.
- Enrolling in a course does not negate the requirement for submitting an Application for a field experiences placement according to the due dates shown above.
- There will be a fee for student teaching assessed in addition to the tuition. The amount of the fee is posted on the class schedule.
- The Office of Field Experiences will send email communications to your AU email account. These emails may be sent by coefield@aurora.edu, coeplace@aurora.edu, mhuff@aurora.edu, and cwillman@aurora.edu. Consider building an email filter to highlight these senders or periodically search for email from these accounts so you do not miss important communications.
Moodle
Through the Aurora University website, join the Moodle board titled College of Education: General Placement & Field Experiences Information Board. No enrollment key is needed to join this board, simply use your AU email login information. Members have access to:
- detailed information about placement requirements
- notification when status notices and placement notices are issued
- course manuals and other resources
- dates for mandatory Orientation events for each semester
- Master Calendar for placement experiences each semester
Application Forms
The application forms are located on the Aurora University website. Under the Academics tab, choose the College of Education webpage and then select "Field Experience Applications".
The “Candidate Information Form” portion of the application is reviewed by the school district(s). Treat this form as you would a job application and make every effort to use proper grammar and punctuation. Remember that AU offers a great resource for preparing written documents through the learning center: http://aurora.edu/academics/resources/learning-center
Completed applications are to be attached to an email sent from your AU email account to: coefield@aurora.edu. Applications are only accepted as email attachments. NO PAPER COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED!
There are two clinical placement personnel in the Office of Field Experiences to answer any questions about the application. They are:
- Cindi Willman, Clinical Placement Coordinator, 630-844-4642, cwillman@aurora.edu
- Whitney Elder, Clinical Placement Assistant, 630-844-3824, coeplace@aurora.edu
The Placement Process
You will receive an automatic confirmation when you submit your application by email. Save this confirmation and a copy of your sent email.
Approximately two months after the application due date, a general notice will be posted to all Moodle members that status notices have been issued to each applicant’s AU email account from coefield@aurora.edu. All applicants will receive a status notice. Please contact the Office of Field Experiences promptly if you do not receive your status notice at this time.
Review your status notice promptly. It reflects the current status of your application and lists some of the outstanding requirements you must complete before your placement. Contact us promptly if anything disagrees with your records. Complete any missing requirements as soon as possible.
Placement notices are issued just prior to the end of the semester before student teaching. They contain both Orientation and Placement information.
As your placement semester approaches, you can also check Moodle for the date of your mandatory Orientation Event. During this meeting, you will receive an overview of the experience; meet your university supervisor; and find out about the expectations of this experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I have not received my placement! Everyone else has...
Some teacher candidates may know about their placement earlier than others because cooperating teachers or districts may request interviews prior to placement confirmation. Announcements of placement notices are posted to Moodle. Begin checking Moodle the week of finals, and if you do not receive your notice on the posted date, please contact the Office of Field Experiences either by email at coefield@aurora.edu or at 630-844-4642 or 630-844-3824.
2. How is my placement determined?
Aurora University has established agreements with school districts in the area. These schools are considered for placements first. Other considerations are the quality experiences offered by the school, the willingness of teachers, the availability of university supervisors, and the distance from the teacher candidate's residence.
3. Is there a required orientation?
Yes, student teachers attend a mandatory orientation to meet their university supervisor and receive information about the requirements of the student teaching experience. Fall orientation is typically the second week of August and spring orientation is the last day of finals week.
4. May I appeal my placement?
Yes, there is an appeal process. You can access the appeal process information here. There is a limited amount of time to appeal your placement.
5. Will transportation be provided?
No, you must have your own transportation to the school site or make arrangements to get to your school site. Every attempt is made for those living in the dormitories to have sites that are close to transportation.
6. Am I allowed to work during student teaching?
It is the policy of the university that students are strongly discouraged from being employed while student teaching. This experience is extremely challenging and requires all of your attention. No other activities can interfere with your participation in the life of the school in which you are placed. This means that teacher candidates are to be available for evening events such as parent/teacher conferences or other after school activities.
7. Can I choose only a part-time student teaching experience?
No, Aurora University and the state of Illinois require the student teaching experience to be full time to replicate as closely as possible the experience of a regular classroom teacher.
